Fear of gang violence has led to the axing of a Powys motorcycle show.The Welsh National Motorcycle Show attracts thousands of people to the county each year.
However, this year’s event, which was due to take place at the Royal Welsh Showground, near Builth Wells, next Friday, has been cancelled after Dyfed-Powys Police said there was a “significant risk of violence” between gangs.
Dyfed-Powys Police said their “serious reservations” about the event were based on a significant increase in violence between rival motorcycle gangs across the UK.
Last August, a biker, believed to be a member of the Hell’s Angels, was shot dead as he rode home from a rally in Warwickshire.
Then in March this year, a motorcycle meeting in Germany ended in chaos when members of long-term rivals The Outlaws and Hell’s Angels began brawling.
A force spokeswoman said officers had concerns about the potential security implications of holding the Welsh National Show this year.
She said: “Nationally a number of motorcycle shows linked to the rival factions are facing challenge under the Licensing Act 2003, as the police believe the shows will be targeted for disturbance and there remains a real risk of serious violence.
“Recently the NEC in Birmingham cancelled a show to protect the safety of everyone involved.
“The organisers of a similar show in Derbyshire have also cancelled that event.
“Additionally Warwickshire Constabulary is in the process of mounting a legal challenge against a show to be held in their area.
“Dyfed-Powys Police are of the view there is a significant risk of violence at this year’s Welsh Motorcycle Show. Our priority is to take every measure to protect the community we serve.
She added: “The objections are not made lightly and illustrate the serious concerns motorcycle events potentially generate.”
The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, which runs the showground, said: “Following representations made and information supplied by Dyfed-Powys Police regarding public safety and security in relation to the motorcycle show, it is with regret we announce the event has had to be cancelled.”
By Andrew Morris
2 Comments
I think this cancellation is diabolical, there has never been any trouble at the Welsh National show in the 6 years that we have been attending. It is a family oriented show with a relaxed and friendly environment, we’ve been taking children there for years now.
I have never seen either of the rival bike clubs there so can’t understand why they think there is going to be violence.
The Builth Wells towns people love having the bikers there as we bring big revenues to the town, its not just the bikers that are disappoint but the local business and the traders who travel from miles around to attend the show.
What with the floods and bad weather of last years summer and now the cancellations this year some of these small traders are going to have to go out of business…
The 2 clubs in question over the trouble in Warwickshire last year never come to the Welsh Motorcycle Show, its a family weekend with hundreds of children safe within the compound of the Royal Welsh Showground. The most the police have had to cope with is petty theft, the marshals and the organisers always do a cracking job of policing the area.
There is a support run to Builth planned for the Bank Holiday Monday, the information for this is on our website - http://www.rag-cymru.co.uk